<p>Here’s an old article about what Stanford looks at in reviewing applications. <a href=“You've requested a page that no longer exists | Stanford News”>You've requested a page that no longer exists | Stanford News; It’s nearly a decade old, but I believe it still holds some credence. </p>
<p>Stanford and other top colleges admit very few students based on academics per se. Having strong academics gets you in the conversation and, from that point, it’s up to you to make their case as to why Stanford should want you on their campus. </p>
<p>As the above article suggests, one of the most important aspects to convey is intellectual vitality. Stanford has stopped beating around the bush and now asks students to do so directly in one of their essay prompts. If you are able to honestly convey yourself as a fully engaged student who will make full use of (and significantly contribute to) Stanford’s academic community then the fact that someone else may have answered a few more questions correctly on their SAT or has one or two fewer B’s on their transcript will become totally irrelevant.</p>